The Darien Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the award winners of the 9th Annual “Going for Green” effort to promote green choices of a variety of different ways in everyday living and doing business by taking the following pledge:
“I pledge to the community to make ‘Going for Green’ part of my way of doing business and making lifestyle choices in Darien. As I make decisions for my business, or my life, I will consider green options to help make Darien and the Earth, a safe and hospitable home for present and future generations.”
This year the “Going For Green” initiative is sponsored by First County Bank.
Poster Contest

Artwork by poster contest winner Valerie Le. For larger versions of the first- and second-place winners, see the bottom of this article.
The first part of the initiative is the annual poster contest with the DHS Graphics Design Class, (taught by Dorine Bosler).
The students are given an assignment to create a poster to be used in the Darien Community promoting green choices.
This year, First Place went to Valerie Lee and Second Place went to Cheyenne de la Rivera.
Their posters can be seen in windows of retailers around town promoting “green choices” to the the Darien Community.
Business Awards
In addition, the Darien Chamber chose three award recipients of DCC members that have taken steps to be “environmentally friendly” that are good for the Darien community.
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— an announcement from the Darien Chamber of Commerce
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These award winners are leaders in the community and exemplify steps that local businesses and residents can take themselves to make “green” choices.
2016 Re-Purposing Award of Darien goes to The Gardener’s Center & Florist. The Gardener’s Center has made changes using native plants in their outdoor landscaping.
This plan was very creative in that they removed 1000 square feet of turf grass between the sidewalk and Post Road and replaced it with two species of ornamental sedge grasses — Carex pensylvanica and Carex appalachica which are native to the Eastern region of the US. The turf grass requires water, fertilizer, and soil additives while the sedge grasses require very little water, nutrients and maintenance!
These were creatively reused from a green roof garden project in NYC! In addition, the soil from the roof garden was recycled and repurposed.
2016 Green Choice Award of Darien goes to Palmer’s Market. Palmer’s has made many changes voluntarily to be more “green”. This process has proven to not only benefit the environment but has also helped Palmer’s be more efficient and economical.
From something as simple as providing reusable cups and mugs to employees and adding a water cooler, to working with Eversource to replace all the florescent lights with energy-efficient LED bulbs, and to updating all the refrigeration of the cases and adding night shades, Palmer’s is committed to reducing it’s environmental footprint.
2016 Non-Profit of Darien Award goes to the DCA Thrift Shop. This shop is truly an example of recycling, reusing, and repurposing any and all things possible! For example,
New toys, which cannot be sold at the DCA, are stored for “Toys for Tots” each Christmas. Blankets that are unsold are sent to PAWS, Socks go to shelters, soft toys go to Post 53 to keep children company when transported in the ambulance to the hospital, and wedding dresses are stored and sold by the DCA to customers who buy and send them to Haiti (and other countries) again for girls who can’t afford them.
And shoppers can always find something useful to buy that is unwanted by another. The money raised is used by the DCA for their many endeavors. At the DCA Thrift Shop nothing goes to waste!
Awards Reception
The Awards Reception will be from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., Thursday, April 21. First County Bank, the “Going For Green” sponsor, will host the event at the Darien branch — 1006 Post Road. Anyone in the community is invited to attend ($15 members/non-members).
To register, go to the Darien Chamber of Commerce website. Beverages and food from Estia’s Back Porch and Meatball & Co. will be available for all to enjoy.
The mission of the Darien Chamber of Commerce to work to improve the quality of life for the businesses and residents of Darien. The DCC is sponsored by Elite Sponsor-Darien Rowayton Bank throughout the year.

Artwork by poster contest winner Valerie Le
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Artwork by Second Place winner Cheyenne de la Rivera
Correction: The original announcement misstated the name “DCA Thrift Shop” as “DAC Thrift Shop.” We’ve been alerted to the error and have corrected it here at 9:07 a.m., Wednesday.